While Americans celebrate Christmas, the Senate was hard at work voting on the health care bill.

At 7:16 a.m., the Senate passed on a 60-39 party line vote a sweeping health care bill that will tighten insurance regulations, provide insurance for 31 million more Americans and cost $871 billion over the next decade.

“This is for my friend Ted Kennedy, aye,” said Sen. Robert Byrd as he cast his vote.

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Republican leader Mitch McConnell responded: “This fight isn’t over. My colleagues and I will work to stop this bill from becoming law. That’s the clear will of the American people — and we’re going to continue to fight on their behalf.”

The final law has not been enacted, but it looks like it may be inevitable at this point.

This is a Christmas present America will regret for generations to come.